One of the most popular house plants for beginners is the tough pothos, also known as devil’s ivy or hunter’s rove. It is one of North America’s most famous house plants, and with dozens of varieties and beautiful foliage colors, one fits every interior design aesthetic. Not only is it easy to take care of, but you can also multiply this plant through propagation via cuttings to grow your collection or give it out to friends.
While the pothos is considered a low-maintenance plant that can survive longer periods in a dark room than other plants, it still needs general care and maintenance to thrive. Pothos is a vining plant that naturally climbs the trunks of trees that provide shade in nature, so the ideal pothos plants’ growing conditions include bright indirect light, with something to climb, and well-draining soil. If your soil doesn’t drain well, let it dry out slightly between watering to avoid root rot. It would help if you considered fertilizing or adding compost to the pothos plants during the growing season to promote healthy growth and vibrant foliage. If your plant looks like it’s overtaking its container, you should consider repotting it into something bigger.
Common Pothos Plant Problems and Solutions
Now, let’s talk about those pesky problems that can crop up when caring for your pothos. Yellowing leaves? Brown tips? Pests making themselves at home? If your leaves look a little sad and yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering or poor drainage—give your pothos a break from the watering can and let the soil dry out a bit.
Brown tips? That’s usually a sign of dry air or salty water—try misting your pothos or using distilled water to keep those tips green and happy. It could do better in shaded areas depending on the leaves and possible variations. With creamy or white variations, my plants tend to get sunburned and turn brown when placed too close to bright light.
If pests like spider mites or mealybugs decide to crash the party, a gentle wipe-down with diluted soapy water is a great natural remedy and should send them packing. When buying plants, you should always consider quarantining them for a week before bringing them into your home.
Benefits of growing a Pothos Plant
It is maintained and can benefit the owner and its home. The pothos plants provide a lovely relaxing site and are renowned for their air-purifying properties, making them a popular choice for indoor spaces. Research conducted by NASA as part of the Clean Air Study has shown that pothos plants effectively remove indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. These pollutants can be commonly found in household items like paints, furniture, and cleaning products, as well as from outdoor sources like vehicle emissions.
Propagating Pothos Plants from Stem Cuttings
Propagating might initially feel intimidating because you’re cutting back a plant, but pruning will help encourage bushy growth and prevent leggy stems, making your plant look happier.
To take a cutting, you’ll select a healthy stem from the parent plant to propagate pothos plants from stem cuttings. Look for a stem at least 4-6 inches long with several healthy leaves. Using sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears, make a clean cut just below a node, where a leaf meets the stem.
Next, prepare the cutting by removing leaves from the stem’s bottom few inches, creating a bare section of stem that will be submerged in water or planted in soil to encourage root growth. If desired, you can dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone powder to promote faster rooting, though this is optional.
Now, it’s time to root the pothos cutting. One popular method is to root the cutting in water. Place the prepared cutting in a jar or glass filled with room temperature water, ensuring the bare stem section is submerged. Place the jar in a bright, indirect light location, and change the water every few days to keep it fresh and oxygenated. You should see roots forming from the nodes along the stem in a few weeks.
1. Select a healthy stem from the parent pothos plant, at least 4-6 inches long, and make a clean cut just below a node.
2. Remove leaves from the bottom few inches of the stem to create a bare section.
3. Optionally, dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder.
4. Place the prepared cutting in a jar or glass filled with room temperature water, ensuring the bare stem section is submerged.
5. Position the jar in a bright, indirect light location, and change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
6. Roots should form from the nodes along the stem after a few weeks.
Alternative Propagation Methods for Pothos Plants
In addition to water propagation, there are alternative methods for propagating pothos plants, such as layering and air layering. Layering involves burying a section of a pothole stem in the soil while it is still attached to the parent plant, allowing it to develop roots before being severed and planted as a new plant. Air layering involves creating a small incision in a pothos stem, packing it with moist soil or sphagnum moss, and wrapping it in plastic to encourage root growth. These methods can be more advanced but offer additional options for propagating pothos plants and experimenting with different techniques.
Caring for Pothos Plant Cuttings
Once the newly rooted pothos cuttings have established roots, they gradually acclimate to their new environment, and you’ll want to repot them into individual containers and treat them as you would a more established plant.
Pothos plants are easy to take up and can be a rewarding experience. We encourage you to try growing a pothos plant in your home and experiment with propagating cuttings to expand your plant collection and share with friends and family.